Hair comb



Aug.z3,1949. E, HEBERT .2,479,631

HAIR COMB Filed July 9,` 1948 AT J] INVENTDR EMME leaf/27 j ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23,v 1949 STATES FT "0 IC 1 Claim. l

This invention relates to a hair comb of the type for holding hair in place and has for its primary object to provide a comb that will effectively grip the hair to minimize any tendency to slip from its set position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a comb in which fixed and relatively movable teeth cooperate to grip hair to, thereby, insure non-slipping application of the comb.

Another object of the invention is to provide a comb of the character above referred to that has two sets of oppositely urged movable teeth that simultaneously move, after manual separation, toward the xed teeth to grip hair for the purpose intended.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are eiiicient in operation, convenient in use, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of a comb embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front View showing the comb with the movable teeth separated from the xed teeth.

The embodiment of the invention that is illustrated comprises, generally, a main body part 5 that is formed to have a spine or back 6 and unitary or integral teeth 1, symmetrically arranged elements 8 each of which comprises a strip 9 and integral teeth IIJ mounted on the back 6, manual means II for effecting movement of elements 8 to separate the teeth I!) thereof from teeth 1, spring means I2 for effecting automatic return of the teeth 'I and I0 to hair gripping contiguity, and a cover plate I3 for the front face of the back.

Except for the spring means I2 which are preferably of metal, the other components of the comb ,may be made, as desired, of metal, plastic, bone, wood, or other suitable materials or combinations of materials. These components may be die-formed, molded or cast according to specific desired results.

The back 6 of the body part 5 may be curved as shown and, longitudinally, is provided with a channel I4 that extends between end abutments I5 and vertically is dened by a wall I6 and upper ends I1 of the lixed teeth 'I.

The strips 9 of elements 8 reside in channel I4, one on each side of the middle thereof and are of such length they and the teeth 8 thereon may move endwise as limited 'by abutments I5. The spring means I2 are interposed between said abutments and recesses I8 formed in adjacent ends of strips 9 to urge elements 8 toward each other and, thereby, urge the movable teeth I9 into contiguity to the fixed teeth 1.

The means II is shown as a member having sliding engagement in a slideway I9 formed in back 6 above channel I4 and intersecting the same. Said member is formed with a normally protruding part 28 at its outer end and with a wedge part 2I' at its inner end for wedging engagement with chamfered edges 22 provided on adjacent portions of strips 9. It is evident, therefore, that, upon manual depression on part 2B of means II, elements 8 will be separated from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 4, and that,

upon release of means II, spring means I2 will return said elements to their initial position and, thereby, re-project means II.

The teeth 'I and I0, except for the end teeth Ia on the body 5 and the inner teeth Ita on elements 8, are arranged as cooperating pairs as best seen in Fig. 1. Accordingly, each of the teeth 'I and I'0 is provided with a at side 23 and the sides of said pairs of teeth so intert that each pair comprises a single tooth. Thus, the present comb may be drawn through the hair in the manner of a conventional comb.

The teeth 'I and II] may, of course, be straight, in which case it may be desired to roughen or knurl the faces 23 to improve the grip between cooperating teeth. Or, as shown, the teeth may have a sinuous or serpentine form to improve resistance to outward displacement of the comb when gripping hair. In any case, the spring means I2 are provided with suiiicient force to cause a firm yet resilient gripping of the hair by the cooperating teeth to insure against displacement of the comb and possible loss thereof.

The cover plate I3 encloses channel I4 to hold elements 8, means II and springs I2 in operative position and may be secured to back 6 in various ways.

In use, the comb back is held in one hand with a finger depressing means I I to eiect separation of the teeth. The comb is applied where wanted.

. 3 The means Il is then released and the teeth grip the hair as herein above indicated.

While I have disclosed what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention and since the construction is capable of modifications Within the spirit and scope of my invention, I do not Wish to restrict myself to the particular form of yconstruction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A hair comb comprising a main body part formed to have a back and fixed teeth, said back having a longitudinal channel therein, a pair of similar elements mounted in said channel one on each side of the middle of the back and each having teeth in operative engagement with the iixed teeth, resilient means for urging said elements toward each other to effect contiguity of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '713,402 Clinton Nov. 11, 1902 894,674 Lofstrom July 28, 1908 2,123,117 Newberry July 5, 1938 

